132 replies to this topic

[Brocodile]

To be fair, NASA suffered from a poverty of riches at Barber. There were 350 entries across all the events, with a number of double-dippers as well. The paddock was packed. Adding to the issues with respect to TT was the absence of the head administrator. Consequently, there was no drivers meeting for TT, and, judging by some of the on-track confusion, as well as the numerous masking-tape numbers on doors, there were numerous first-timers who could have used some orientation.

 

NASA is selling a different product from the SCCA. It's more about getting track time and learning to drive than about racing as such. As illustrated by Topher's and my videos, the presence of so many incompatible cars, with drivers of such diverse skill levels leads to some hair-raising experiences with plenty of frustration to go around. This applies to slow drivers in fast cars as well as fast drivers in slow ones. All the drama notwithstanding, I am pleased to note that no OPM driver was reported to NASA officials for any form of body contact the entire weekend.

[Johnny D]

Ya, SCCA and NASA are 2 different animals, all depends on what your looking for and different from region to region.

In mine.

NASA no real SSM.

NASA runs a few Sonoma, SCCA 1.

SCCA runs a few Laguna, NASA 1.

Tech is lacks in NASA, more tech in SCCA. Do you want to pull your head ??

Both have their good and bad races with pile ups in SM.

SCCA in their own run group, NASA has SM, E30, USTCC. E30 standing start which sometimes goes wrong.

Hoosier vs RR's, $ vs HC/value, Like SCCA regional switched to RR's

SCCA only sprints, enduro at the end of year. NASA WERC series/enduro night races/25hr.

SCCA pretty set in their ways. NASA, you want to run the track backwards ??

SCCA stand in line for reg, NASA show up to grid after reg online.

Little more for SCCA, little less for NASA. SCCA 30 min sprint, NASA 25 min sprint. You get what you pay for.

Just a few differences.

J~

[Danny Steyn]

JohnnyD 

you bring up one point that is worth repeating

For the entire race weekend, not one Spec Miata was looked at with respect to tech. We just came off the track and went straight to the trailer.

I suspect that the lack of some key people due to the weather might have something to do with this.

[Danny Steyn]

Here is my lap record video from Saturday's Spec Miata Race (this has nothing to do with the discussion on the NASA forums)

 

It shows the lap 1 mayhem where Spec Miata cars were gridded at the back of the Lightning run group, behind cars that had qualified more than 20 seconds slower than us!!! (they did fix this for Sunday)

 

Then goes on to show lap 10 where I set the record. You will see that the Toyos are on the verge of breaking away in every turn, very different from the sure-footedness of the Hoosiers. Personally I like them and I like their durability.

 

As I said in my earlier post that the weather conditions were so good that I ran ten of my eleven laps under the old lap record. I believe that 20 of the 31 classes that ran at Barber set new track records!!!

 

[Parity]

IMO the first video illustrates why SM numbers are so low in our NASA region. Mid pack drivers in E30's and 944's can out motor you in any longer straight just enough to get under you in the corner but they can't ultimately pull away so you're stuck unless the driver lets you go.  I've talked to a few guys after such an event and I often hear something like, "You were a little faster in the corners but I was a little faster on the straights". I try and point out that if my lap times area little faster all I need is a slight lift on the straight for a single lap and they we would be out of each others' way but it doesn't often happen.

 

You end up trying to set up a pick or dive bomb and block for a lap to make your own room. Very few SCCA guys want to cross over for that sort of racing.

[LarryKing]

 

 http://youtu.be/pmx056GNvN8

 

 

As Gilligan said, "Skipperrrrrrrrr"  Wee-oh that's some crazy shiz.

 

 

Note the wide assortment of cars and driving skills.

 

That does sound nicer than "Wanker Grand Prix"

 

 

PS: Doesn't say you may have a stripper pole in the rule book. Guess you could argue it's a data system (vector detector)

[LarryKing]

 

SCCA only sprints, enduro at the end of year.

 

Maybe in your area. SE SCCA has the Carolina Cup and the ECR. Great Lakes SCCA hold many 1 hour enduros at their regionals.

[Caveman-kwebb99]

Both clubs could benefit from becoming co operators rather then compettitors, scca is far better for racing but they lack in driver development and driver training. Nasa is far less desirable for racing unless you are training for grand am next season, but their driver ed development program is usually a wait list at most tracks. If they jettisoned the racing group how many more hpde drivers and groups could they accomadate? There seems to be some deep seeded hatred there between the two orgs each trying to beat the other at their own game, ever seen a NBA basketball player play hockey? Thats what each club looks like when they try to do what they are no good at.

[svvs]

IMO the first video illustrates why SM numbers are so low in our NASA region. Mid pack drivers in E30's and 944's can out motor you in any longer straight just enough to get under you in the corner but they can't ultimately pull away so you're stuck unless the driver lets you go.  I've talked to a few guys after such an event and I often hear something like, "You were a little faster in the corners but I was a little faster on the straights". I try and point out that if my lap times area little faster all I need is a slight lift on the straight for a single lap and they we would be out of each others' way but it doesn't often happen.

 

You end up trying to set up a pick or dive bomb and block for a lap to make your own room. Very few SCCA guys want to cross over for that sort of racing.

#truth.

 

I anticipate more SM racing in NASA this year Paul.  The EFI guys now have two miatas.  Also, with the NASA national championship being on the east coast this year I bet a bunch of east coast SCCA guys cross over in order to qualify.

 

In Lightning here in the NE Spec e30 has done a good job of getting their car counts up and usually has their own split start.  I think you will see high numbers in HC as well.,

 

As a result I think we'll have a group of SE 30's, a group of HC cars, a group (7?) of SM, and then the odd GTS2 boxster and the 944's that are still around.

 

Best case scenario in that instance would be to start the HC cars first, then the SE30's and 944's behind them.  Followed by a split start for the SMs if there are enough of us to justify it.

 

I'm hoping the July 4th race at LRP will bring some people out for NASA this year.  All the big boys will be up at WGI for the major, but should be a great race.  Shame I can't make that one.

 

-Vick

[DrDomm]

After I watched Danny's video I don't understand how anyone could complain that he hung back intentionally, thus causing difficulty for faster cars that were lapping.

[AJ Roderick]

Here's a video from one of the guys claiming Danny "ruined" his 2nd fast lap....

 

Skip to 4:00 to see him catch Danny

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=rpYvoG7eXTw

[LarryKing]

Doc Domm, Danny's video was from the Lightening Group race. The complaints were about the TT sessions.

[Jim Drago]

I have the same opinion as I have had since 07 when I ran NASA the first time trying to qualify for the Champs.. They have a lot going on and at many races, IMO too much. I feel like their is a far better chance that I will leave with body damage than I feel is acceptable. Many good things about NASA, they keep to the schedule really well and the Champs is an entirely different event with single car groups for Sm. I like the champs and the format( except qualifying races are too short and invite carnage IMO) I don't like the normal weekends very much at well attended events because every one I have been too, look like these videos.

[Jim Drago]

Here's a video from one of the guys claiming Danny "ruined" his 2nd fast lap....
 
Skip to 4:00 to see him catch Danny
 
http://www.youtube.c...h?v=rpYvoG7eXTw

I could only pray people were that courteous to me in qualifying. The seas parted for that guy... He is nuts ( disclaimer.. I only watched from 4:00 on.) I'm sure if he called Danny and got some pointers he could pick up a little time, I saw about a second or so

[DrDomm]

Doc Domm, Danny's video was from the Lightening Group race. The complaints were about the TT sessions.

 

Ahhhh.....

[Caveman-kwebb99]

I could only pray people were that courteous to me in qualifying. The seas parted for that guy... He is nuts ( disclaimer.. I only watched from 4:00 on.) I'm sure if he called Danny and got some pointers he could pick up a little time, I saw about a second or so

 

Whats danny know about driving a corevette 700hp car???     like he could give anyone that drives a car like that any pointer...  He practices his 2-3 shift 2000 times a week in a lowely street miata.  Thats like a frisbee player giving you some golf lessons

[Jim Drago]

Whats danny know about driving a corevette 700hp car???     like he could give anyone that drives a car like that any pointer...  He practices his 2-3 shift 2000 times a week in a lowely street miata.  Thats like a frisbee player giving you some golf lessons

I'll give 10:1 odds that Danny gets in that car and goes 1 second faster by the end of the first session.

[suck fumes]

After watching that I don't see how that guy has a complaint???? He just went around Danny on the straight with ease.

[Johnny D]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=b7iUKaPlBl8

J~

[Jim Drago]

After watching that I don't see how that guy has a complaint???? He just went around Danny on the straight with ease.

And Danny was off line allowing him through